Larry W. Hill, MD passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 31, 2018 after battling a brief illness with Sarcoma cancer. He was a resident of Austin since 1972. He was a radiologist with Austin Radiological Association, serving as its president for seventeen years. He retired in 2011. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara Ann Hill, daughters Kelley Aguirrie (Anthony), Kevin Beard (James), son Larry Hill II (Pam), step daughters Jennifer Polk (Chris) and Julie Boehm (Marty), and ten grandchildren: Jennifer and Jonathan Aguirrie, Larry Hill III, Travis and Shelby Duran, Michael Munoz, Keagan and Kash Polk, Boe and Kendyl Boehm. Larry is also survived by his Mother-in-Law, Billie Catherine Rains, Brother-in Laws Odus Francis (Beth), Tommy Rains Jr., Michael Rains (Roxanne), Sister-in-Law Jean Pearce, and many nieces, nephews, and relatives. He was preceded in death by his first wife Karen, daughters Kristen Hill, Karla Hill, and Kimberly Savage (Tim).
He was born July 11, 1939 to Eva Mae and Loyce Hill at home in Stroud, Oklahoma on US 66. A year later the family moved to Oklahoma City. During WWII his father was in the 106 Div. He became a POW at the Battle of the Bulge and was liberated in April 1945 by General Patton’s third army. He was sent to Camp Swift Texas where Larry began the first grade in Elgin, Texas. His dad was discharged in November 1945 and the family returned to Oklahoma City where Larry transferred to Putnam City Schools and where he graduated with honors in 1956 at age 16. He graduated from Oklahoma University with a BA degree in 1960 and from Oklahoma University School of Medicine with a MD in 1964. In 1963 he married his childhood pen pal Karen. They were married for 44 years until her death in June 2007.
On entering medical school he accepted a commission in the USN and served for twelve years. Following his internship at USNH Portsmouth, Virginia he went to University of Rochester and received a MS in Radiobiology in 1966. This was followed by a tour at the Pentagon, Defense Atomic Support Agency, as deputy surgeon. In September 1967, he was selected to begin a radiology residency at San Diego Naval Medical Center. In 1970 he became certified in Radiology by the ACR. He stayed at San Diego Naval as a radiation oncologist.
In 1972 he left the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and took a job in Austin with Austin Radiological Association (ARA). He was the seventh radiologist to join ARA. He was made a Fellow by the ACR and was named one of fifty two Legends of Radiology in Texas by Texas Radiological Society in 2013.
Larry was on the OU rifle team in College. He was a member of Sig Ep. He took up flying in Portsmouth and Rochester. During his five years in San Diego he was active in sports car rallies and began his love of horses. In 1972 he moved to Texas with his wife Karen, six children, six horses and a great dane. The Arabian horse herd grew to sixty five over the years and was known as Austintatous Arabians. Karen and he were avid skiers and had a condo in Colorado. He had a skiing accident in 1992 tearing his aorta and pulling the non-coronary cusp off of the aortic valve. Larry also loved hunting and fishing.
He remarried in October 2008 to Barbara Ann Schroeder and joined her large family. He was the 40th member of the Rains family that has grown to 53 as of today. As an only child this was a different world with lots of family reunions and “Christmas’ at the Farm”. He was the only Sooner in the family of mostly Texas Aggies. Barbara and Larry loved traveling. Some memorable trips where to Russia, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean Seas, Hawaii and Tahiti. Tailgating every home football season at A&M and several away games was their fall hobby in their 45 foot motor home. During the summers relaxing at their beautiful coast home was a must. Barbara and Larry were blessed with many happy memories over the last 10 years.
For health reasons, he retired from ARA in 2011. He was a survivor of two ruptured thoracic aneurysms 1992 & 2003, three open heart surgeries, two major bleeds 2012 and 2014, and a three week coma 2016.
Larry was a very loving husband, father and grandfather. His friendship and witty ways will be missed by so many.
Pall bearers are his grandsons: Larry Hill III, Travis Duran, Jonathan Aguirrie, Michael Munoz, Kash Polk and Boe Boehm.
Honorary pall bearers are the radiologists and employees of Austin Radiological Association, Norman Gelfand, Bill Perkins, Skip Butler and Randy Eberts.
Funeral Services are as follows: Family visitation and viewing will be on Tuesday June 5th at Cook Walden Funeral Home (6100 N Lamar Blvd, Austin 78752) from 6-8 PM. Funeral will be Wednesday June 6th at St. John Neumann Catholic Church (5455 Bee Caves Rd, Austin 78746) at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Capital Parks Cemetery (14501 N I-35, Pflugerville 78660).
In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to St. John Neumann Building Fund.
“Take my hand Precious Lord
Lead me Home…”
